Interest Groups

From northern Spain to western Africa

Event Date: September 20, 2023, at 10:00 AM

Enjoy the recording of UMRA’s first Armchair Traveler program of 2023–24. Nanette Hanks shared fabulous pictures and information about the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Tom O'Toole told us about his return visit to Sierra Leone in West Africa.

Tax efficient distributions to family and charities

Event Date: September 18, 2023, at 9:30 AM

This presentation was recorded at Carlson School. Topics included IRS compliant ways to make qualified charitable distributions (QCD) from your IRA or rollover IRA; funding gifts to Minors and other gifts; plus more.

Book Notes | ‘Lessons in Chemistry’

Event Date: September 15, 2023, at 2:00 PM

The UMRA Book Club discussion of Elizabeth Zott’s novel brought to light several real-life examples of discrimination against women close to home, including their exclusion from full participation in the University of Minnesota Marching Band until 1972 and the landmark Rajender v. University of Minnesota sex discrimination lawsuit filed in 1973.

Photo Club September meeting

All UMRA members with an interest in photography are welcome to attend the in-person meeting of the UMRA Photo Club at the Hennepin County St. Anthony branch library on Tuesday, September 12. “Fences” is the theme for September.

Leisurely Lake Minnetonka hike

Join host KaiMay Terry for a 3.5 mile slow-paced walk on the Three Rivers Dakota Rail Regional Trail. The scenic paved walk will start and end at KaiMay's home overlooking Lake Minnetonka. 

Craig Swan

How I learned, this summer, that my great aunt, one of my paternal grandfather’s sister, was included in a fresco at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  As far as I know she is the only relative of mine who is part of a fresco anywhere in the world.

‘Beowulf’ is the FF Book Club selection for August 25

UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club recently read the Epic of Gilgamesh translation by Stephen Mitchell. Next up, for the group’s August 25 meeting, is Beowulf. One of the only Old English works to survive, it is a powerful story of unwavering integrity, heroism, and honor

August 21 hike

We will travel to William O'Brien State Park at Marine on the St. Croix and have lunch after the hike at the Rustic Roots Winery only 1/2 mile from the park.

Book Notes | ‘The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane’

Event Date: August 18, 2023, at 2:00 PM

Although it represents exhaustive research and is engrossing, Lisa See’s novel about a young woman who becomes a tea entrepreneur in China and the daughter she gives up for adoption by a family in Southern California drew mixed reactions from members of UMRA’s Book Club I.

Book Notes | ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’

Event Date: July 21, 2023, at 2:00 PM

Carson McCullers’ debut novel enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of the bestseller lists when first published in 1940, and ranks high on many current lists of best novels. But members of UMRA’s Book Club I found it to be dark and bleak and would not recommend the book to others.

July 17 hike (no hike July 3)

Hike along Minnehaha Creek from Portland Avenue S to Lake Harriet.

Photo Club July meeting

For July the theme is Street Art.

June 19 hike

Meet at 9:30 at the Holland Lake Trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan (Cliff Road and Lexington Avenue).

June Book Club I

Beth Bedell will lead the discussion of Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 16.

June Photo Club

Lunch at the Great Dragon at 11:30am  for those who are interested.